Recently I spent several hours in a secret garden in
Berkeley. By secret garden, I simply mean a private, out-of-the way place that
can be used as a retreat. In this case, the garden was a corner turn away from
a busy courtyard used by many. My husband introduced me to the garden, and
suggested I might enjoy it while waiting for him to finish up some work before
a dinner date.
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| Secret garden in Berkeley |
The afternoon was unseasonably hot and bright, so this
shaded garden seemed like a great place to relax and read.
The design is simple – a raised bed with a central fountain is surrounded by
plantings. Three wooden benches provide seating for contemplative meditation; private
conversation; or undisturbed reading or studying. Leafy trees provide dappled light,
and a painted wall provides a visually stimulating background.
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| Raised bed in the secret garden - benches are hidden behind the fountain |
My husband was right – I did enjoy this shady retreat and a
chance to read and think in a beautiful environment.
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